Bolton Conservation Commission at full strength

When voters at town meeting declined to reduce the Conservation Commission membership to five members from the existing seven, the plea went out for residents to volunteer.

Someone listened.

The Board of Selectmen last week appointed two new members to the commission, naming Mark Sprague and Janet Pasaturo members of the board charged with overseeing wetlands and conservation matters.

The town meeting change was requested after considerable time with the smaller membership and the difficulty getting a quorum since four of the five members had to attend a meeting.

Dog days

One duty of selectmen that virtually everyone elected to the board has to deal with, and universally dislikes having to deal with, is dog issues.

Last week, dogs continued to be a major point of discussion. The Sipowicz dogs, ruled as dangerous and ordered confined within fencing or on a leash after a hearing the previous meeting, were back on the agenda.

The board heard details of the condition of the fence on the Sipowicz property at 122 Fox Run Road. Town officials, including animal control officers and building inspector, looked at the fence and determined a large portion was not at the agreed-upon six-foot height and had some concerns about security. But they agreed it could be upgraded, including measures to prevent the dogs from digging under the fences.

Phillip Sipowicz stressed, however, that he didn’t see the need and was appealing the board’s previous decisions to the court.

The board has ordered the measures after complaints that at least one of the two dogs had bitten people on multiple occasions.

“I think we’ve gone a long way toward the goal of making this safe for everyone,” Sipowicz said. “I think what I have today is good.”

He had previously agreed to the six-foot fence.

He said he couldn’t prepare for any eventuality. Concerns raised included the need for a six-foot fence in case snowfall buildup makes the effective height of the fence much lower during winter and the ability of dogs to dig under a fence.

The board voted that the fence should be raised and lower bars installed to better secure the fencing.

“We assumed it was six feet,” Selectman Stan Wysocki said, “It was represented as six feet.” He added, however, “If it’s done we should be good,” referring to the upgrades the board wanted to see to prevent the dogs from getting loose and possibly causing another dog bite scenario.

“I’m appealing the entire finding of the previous meeting,” Sipowicz said of his plans.

Selectman Larry Delaney noted that a new trial could be held in court. The appeal will initially be held before a clerk magistrate.

The board gave a two-week window for work to be planned and approved, then reviewed by town officials when completed before the Aug 16 board meeting.

In other business

•Town Administrator Don Lowe reported progress on the plans to install a chair lift at the Houghton Building to allow better access to the second floor.

Lowe said four companies were looking at the site, which would allow the town to consider bids for the work, estimated in the $11,000 range. The plan is to use funds from the current fiscal year, which requires the Board of Selectmen to act by its July 12 meeting.

•The board approved DPW Director Harold Brown’s plan to use $287,000 in state Chapter 90 funds for roadwork. Brown’s priorities include resurfacing over two miles of Route 117 roadway from the Lancaster line and finishing repairs and resurfacing on Kettle Hole Road.

Brown said he wanted to use a process that recycles roadway material, generating savings of about $47,000.

“With what the state gives us we can do three miles versus two miles,” Brown said of the process, which he said he has watched as it has been perfected over the past 15 years.

•The board approved changes to the Sprint wireless tower at 96 Hudson Road, swapping in newer equipment, including antennas, radio heads, a GPS antenna and new fiber cables.

•Selectmen created a gift account for use of Scouts to receive funds donated for projects, with a five-year limit on the account. The issue arose when donations for the Eagle Scout project done in concert with Conservation Commission received three donations made out to the town of Bolton rather than to the Scout.

•The board voted to authorize a revision in the regional household waste agreement, allowing Shirley to enter and expanding the Devens-based group to 10 communities.

•The Lions Club voluntary tollbooth was approved for June 30, having been rained out on its originally scheduled date.